Application of innovative measures to enrich the nutrition of beef cattle, increase feed conversion efficiency and control helminths

22BV-KK-26-1-00600-PR001

Nijolė Kažemėkaitė

Lietuvos sveikatos mokslų universitetas

Kauno m. sav.

210,717.00 EUR

To evaluate the potential of applying medicinal plants and willow biologically active compounds (tannins, flavonoids, salicylates) in beef cattle feeding systems, in order to increase feed conversion efficiency, reduce damage caused by gastrointestinal nematodes, improve animal health, and reduce enteric greenhouse gas emissions. To create a scientifically based, practically applicable model that can be transferred to other animal husbandry branches, and to contribute to the transformation of the Lithuanian agricultural sector into a climate-neutral production model.

Livestock farms

The project involves the development and testing of a new, comprehensive system for the feeding and management of beef cattle. This system is based on the integration of a mixture of medicinal plants—oregano (*Origanum vulgare*), wormwood (*Artemisia absinthium*), tansy (*Tanacetum vulgare*), meadowsweet (*Filipendula ulmaria*), and willow (*Salix* spp.)—and their biologically active compounds (tannins, flavonoids, and salicylates) into both the cattle’s feed rations and the pasture ecosystem. This innovation encompasses several interconnected areas, each evaluated through specific metrics, such as weight gain, a reduction in the use of antiparasitic drugs, emission levels, and changes in biodiversity: • The development and practical application of a new feed additive consisting of a mixture of chopped willow and medicinal plants, combined with a specific mineral composition (Ca, P, Mg, Na). • The enhancement of pasture systems through the establishment of strips of medicinal plants or the inclusion of their seeds during the formation of grassland swards, ensuring the plants are accessible to cattle while grazing. • The utilization of bioactive plant compounds to achieve antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects, as well as to reduce emissions of methane and nitrogenous compounds. • Development of data integration and analysis methodologies, utilizing artificial intelligence technologies for the assessment of body condition and weight, as well as laser-based methane detectors for emission measurement.

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